Meet the District 3 candidates: ‘Identify one missed opportunity in District 3.’

JConr B. Ortega

Self-described formerly homeless, leatherman, boxer

Supervisor Peskin has failed in many areas, but one area specific he has failed at is public safety. Supervisor Peskin was an original ‘defund the police’ supervisor who passed the budget that removed $120 million from the San Francisco Police Department. To this date, Supervisor Peskin has supported those who advocate for police abolishment. Under his leadership, we have seen an increase of Anti-Asian hate crimes and an ever-dwindling police force. In the March election, he had the chance to repair his anti-SFPD position, but chose not to. As the next Supervisor, I won’t make the same mistake.

Danny Sauter

Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together

The pandemic sent shockwaves through District 3’s downtown and tourism-heavy neighborhoods. The response has been too little, too late. Specifically, I would have acted earlier and with more urgency to:

Diversify downtown: Downtown needs more housing, dozens of new pedestrian plazas and open spaces, and flexible use that weaves together retail, entertainment, offices and housing. 

Reimagine Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf: There has been no robust planning taken to make these neighborhoods full, fun, and vibrant once again. We need to make these neighborhoods shine and amaze to keep tourism, our city’s economic engine, running.

Matthew Susk

Former lead with Divvy Homes

A missed opportunity for District 3’s benefit was neglecting the decade-long vacancy of Lombardi Sports on Polk Street. There was, and still is, overwhelming community support for an affordable grocery store in that location. While drug grocery stores thrive, there’s been no proactive effort to bring affordable grocery stores to everyday San Franciscans. Collaboratively working to fill this vacancy could’ve met a vital community need and ensured residents had access to essential and affordable food.

Moe Jamil

Deputy city attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office

Rather than nitpicking the past, I plan to move District 3 forward.

I will not look to the political winds, camps, or ideologies when making decisions. I am rooted in organic life experience, including my deep roots working on the ground in every neighborhood of District 3 with tenants, homeowners and local businesses, fighting for the City we love. 

As Supervisor, I will insist that residents and local businesses are empowered to participate in land-use decisions. I vehemently oppose efforts to systematically remove public input from these decisions, as we saw in 2022’s Proposition D and many laws removing … Read more.

Sharon Lai

Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

District 3 has one of the highest percentage of renters, and Supervisor Peskin has been one of the best advocates for renters, including the long-overdue restriction on the tax pass-through law last month. 

These are not “lost” opportunities, but opportunities to go further: 

• Keep rents affordable by further limiting optional capital-improvement pass-throughs, such as project management and soft-cost expenses. 

• Keep displaced tenants informed about their rights, such as requiring landlords to fund a third-party tenants’ rights outreach program for every month rent-controlled tenants can’t return to their home due to unforeseen damage to their unit.

Eduard Navarro

Tech startup founder

In SF, discretionary components like California Environmental Quality Act lawsuits and conditional-use-permit appeals introduce significant risks in urban development. CEQA, which evaluates environmental impacts, frequently results in legal disputes that halt projects, while conditional permit appeals add further uncertainty. Additionally, zoning regulations, intended to control growth and protect the environment, often prove blunt and ineffective. These issues complicate compliance, increase costs, and hinder efficient resolution of housing and infrastructure challenges. There’s potential for reform to facilitate smoother quality-development, reviving the civic enthusiasm and hope for urban progress seen in the late 19th century. SF has the opportunity to reform and lead.